Alternative Breaks
The Alternative Breaks program places teams of college or high school students in community service and experiential learning positions during their summer, fall, winter or spring breaks. Students perform short term projects for community agencies and learn about issues such as literacy, poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness and the environment. The objectives of an Alternative Break program are to involve college students in community-based service projects and to give students opportunities to learn about the problems faced by members of communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact. Examples of trips students have participated in include working with the homeless in San Francisco, acting as student teachers at a bilingual primary school in Phoenix, and helping with sand dune restoration in California.
The objectives of the Alternative Break projects are to involve college students in community-based service experiences and expose students to the social problems faced by communities that they may rarely witness or contact. By traveling to a community outside of Missoula, a student's awareness of national social problems may be heightened.
Alternative Break trips take place twice throughout the school year, over Winter and Spring Break at UM. The Winter Break trips have the benefit of a short classroom course offered in conjunction with the trip. The course is a 395 level honors college course, but the tuition is extremely low. The Spring Break trips have an optional attached service learning seminar.
**UPDATE: This spring students will be travelling to Moab, UT to work with Plateau Restoration Inc. in Arches National Park. Students will work outdoors, camp in the park, and get plenty of time to enjoy their surroundings while there. Students will leave for Moab on March 31st and return to Missoula by April 7th. For more information contact Brooke! Click here for an application. Applications can also be found at the Source in the UC or in the Office for Civic Enagement.
Contact:
Brooke Diaz
Office for Civic Engagement
Davidson Honors College 015
Phone: 243-5531
Email: brooke.diaz@umconnect.umt.edu
